Hong Kong encompasses 1092 square kilometers. It is divided
into four main areas: Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, the New Territories and the
Outlying Islands. Kowloon and the New Territories are on a peninsula with the
Chinese mainland, on the northern side of Victoria Harbor. Hong Kong Island is
on the southern side of the harbor facing Kowloon, and the Outlying Islands
simply refers to any of the other 234 neighboring islands, many of which are uninhabited.
Hong Kong is home to over 6.8 million people, which means 6250 people per square
kilometer, making Hong Kong one of the most densely populated places on Earth.
English and Cantonese are both official languages of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region of China (HKSAR). There are other dialects of Chinese spoken such a Potungha, Shanghainese, Fukinese, Hakka etc.
Background
Hong Kong was settled by Han Chinese during the seventh century, A.D. The first large migration from northern China to Hong Kong occurred during the Sung Dynasty (960-1279). Until the arrival of Westerners in the 19th century, Hong Kong supported little human life except pirates and fishermen, and was a forgotten part of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Hong Kong really took off when Britain's desire to use it's harbor for the importation of opium which soon led to the First Opium War (1840-1842). The site CNN.com describbes the Opium Wars and their place in the history of Hong Kong. During the First Opium War, on January 26, 1841, a British naval party, led by Commodore Gordon Bremmer, landed on the northwestern shore of Hong Kong, raised the Union Jack, and formally occupied the island. China ceded Hong Kong to Britain under the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. A combined British and French force invaded China in 1859, forcing the Chinese to agree to the Convention of Peking in 1860, which ceded the Kowloon Peninsula and nearby Stonecutters Island to the British and officially ended the Second Opium War (1856-1858). In 1898, the British also gained a 99-year lease on the New Territories, which they felt essential to protect their interests on Hong Kong Island.
The growth has occurred mainly since the Chinese revolution and particularly during the great economic development of China in recent decades. Hong Kong has been called in those years 'the gateway to the West for China's trade,' made possible by China's forbearance of its use as an imperialist enclave. According to the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, 'half of all Chinese exports are handled by Hong Kong companies, and 22 percent of China's entire trading is done with Hong Kong.' Hong Kong became an economic success and a manufacturing, commercial, finance, and tourism center.
In December 1984, after long extensive negotiations to renew the lease of the territory which failed, the British agreed to hand over the entire colony when the lease on the New Territories ran out in 1997. On June 30, 1997, Hong Kong was officially was handed over and back to it's rightful owners, the Chinese. Hong Kong retains a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs. According to the Sino-British Joint Declaration (1984) and the Basic Law, which is the mini-constitution for Hong Kong will use, "Hong Kong will retain it's political, economic, and judicial systems and unique way of life for the next 50 years after reunification and will continue to participate in international agreements and organizations under the name, "Hong Kong, China."
Economy
Hong Kong is the 13th most competitive economy in the world (ranked in 2001). Hong Kong's GDP is (US) $23,733, which is 41 times that of nearby mainland China and is comparable to those countries of mainland Europe. Hong Kong is the world's 11th largest trading economy, it is the world's 6th largest foreign exchange market, it is the world's 12th largest banking centre, and is Asia's 2nd largest stock market. Hong Kong's only natural resource is its deep water harbor, a fact that allows Hong Kong to be one of the world's busiest container port. The Economist.com site http://www.economist.com/countries/HongKong/profile.cfm?folder=Profile-FactSheet provides further information.
Hong Kong has a free market economy that is dependent on outside international trade.
Natural resources are very limited, as only 5.05% of the 1092 sq. kilometers is
arable, and food and raw materials must be imported from China and other countries. Imports and exports,
including re-exports, each exceed GDP in dollar value. Hong Kong has been
integrating its economy with China more and more each year because China's growing
openness to the world economy has increased competitive pressure on Hong Kong's
service industries, and Hong Kong's re-export business from China is a major
driver of growth. Hong Kong is now a major logistics centre in China's trade with the outside world. Additional descriptive information may be found in the CIA World
Factbook. Also, the site http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2747.htm
should also be visited and it has additional information on Hong Kong's economic situation as well as information
on various aspects of Hong Kong's society. Hong Kong is now primarily a service based economy.
Government
Under the Joint Declaration of 1984, China adopted the mantra of "One
Country/Two Systems" to describe the way it plans on dealing with the difference
in cultures and government between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland. The Basic
Law, which was adopted in 1990 by the National People's Congress, is modeled on
British Common Law. Hong Kong had its first democratically elected legislature
in 1995. Dissolved in 1997, it was replaced with a Provisional Legislature until
Mr. Tung Chee-hwa, a shipping magnate, was chosen as the first chief executive
of the new Hong Kong in 1997. The Election Committee is made up of 800 Hong Kong residents from four
constituency groups: (1)commercial, industrial, and financial interests; (2)
professionals;(3) labor, social services, and religious interests; and (4)the
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. According to the Hong Kong
constitution, 30 members of the Legislative Council were elected by functional
or occupational constituencies and, beginning with the 2004 election, 30 were
directly elected.
- Full Name: Hong Kong
- Area: 1,098 sq km 424 sq miles
- Population: 6,890,000
- Time Zone: GMT/UTC +8 ()
- Daylight Saving Start: not in use
- Daylight Saving End: not in use
- Currency: Hong Kong Dollar ($)
- Electricity: 220V 50HzHz
When To Go
Weatherwise, October, November and most of December are the best months of the year to visit Hong Kong; the skies are clear and the sun shines. The June to August heat/rain combo might push your endurance to the utter limit but there's a lot of sunshine and, after all, it's summer. Hotels tend to offer substantial discounts outside the high seasons of March-April and October-November. Travel can be difficult during Chinese New Year in late January/early February when the whole city is shut down for holidays and the hotels are booked out.
Terrorism
The threat from terrorism in Hong Kong is low. But you should be aware of
the global risk of indiscriminate attacks, which could be against civilian
targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
Crime
The incidence of violent crime is very low but pickpocketing and other street
crimes can occur in urban areas. You should take extra care of passports, credit
cards and money in crowded areas. You should be careful of your belongings when
checking out of hotels. There have also been some isolated incidents of
robberies in Hong Kong’s Country Parks since 2005. These incidents have been
reduced following a crime prevention operation by the Hong Kong Police.
Nevertheless, if you intend to hike in Hong Kong’s Country Parks you should
stick to marked trails and avoid carrying credit/bank cards or large amounts of
cash. If you are in Hong Kong and intend to go hiking, you can pick up a pair of the licence free FRS handheld transceivers here that operate on the 409 MHz band (FM).
Political Situation
Hong Kong is a stable society underpinned by the rule of law. Large-scale
demonstrations are becoming more frequent in Hong Kong, but despite the
substantial numbers these sometimes attract, they have been conducted in a
peaceful and orderly manner. However, you should take sensible precautions
against petty crime if in the vicinity.
Local Laws and Customs
Hong Kong law is based mainly
on UK law. There are on the spot fines for littering and spitting. There is
zero tolerance for ticketless travel the Mass Transit Railway (MTR). You
should not become involved with illicit drugs of any kind. Possession of these
drugs can lead to imprisonment. As a general precaution don’t take photographs
of military installations in Hong Kong. Since the 1997 handover, the defence of
Hong Kong has been the responsibility of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
All previous British military barracks now belong to the PLA.
Entry Requirements
Although Hong Kong is now part of
the People's Republic of China, it remains a Special Administrative Region with
its own immigration controls. You can stay in Hong Kong for up to six months
without a visa.
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some places require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter, or in some cases, before permitting the children to leave. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London at: http://www.hketolondon.gov.hk before travelling.
Visits to Mainland China
Health
The UK and Hong Kong Reciprocal Health Care Arrangement terminated on 30 June 1997.
Travellers undergo temperature screening for SARS at borders. Depending on results, further medical examinations may be required.
Every year several cases of dengue fever are reported in Hong Kong. The numbers are small in comparison to the total population and outbreaks have been localised. But visitors are recommended to take precautions against mosquito bites.
You should seek medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on health, check the Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk.
Avian
Influenza (Bird Flu)
The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low. As a precaution, you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.
Natural Disasters
Typhoons very occasionally hit Hong Kong and may cause flooding and landslides. Warning is given in advance. Public and private sector offices all shut down when the "Typhoon 8" signal is hoisted and the city comes to a halt as it waits for the typhoon to pass. Tyhoon signal no.10 is the highest signal and is the category for a hurricane.
Employment
Shopping
The vast majority of retail outlets are fair and
honest. However, you should be aware that a number of incidents have occurred
in the Nathan Road/Tsim Tsa Tsui area where shoppers have been overcharged for
older models of goods. You should shop around for prices before purchase as
claims for compensation after goods have been paid will have to be referred to
the consumer council website. You should be aware that this process may take
some time.
British Consulate In Hong Kong:
| Address: | British Consulate-General No 1 Supreme Court Road Central Hong Kong (P O Box 528) |
| Telephone: |
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| Facsimile: |
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| Email: |
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| Office Hours: | GMT: Mon-Fri: 0030-0915 Local Time: Mon-Fri: 0830-1715 |
| Website: | http://www.britishconsulate.org.hk/ |
Licence Free Radio:
Mentioned earlier, Hong Kong has a FRS raido systems (FM ) that operates on the 409 MHz band, these radios are freely available for purchase in shops.
Hiking in Hong Kong [Partial Extract from OFTA Site, for safety purposes of hikers reproduce here]:
Stay in Touch in Country Parks
Equip yourselves with Mobile Phones and Walkie-Talkies |
Bring along your mobile phones and walkie-talkies. | |
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For mobile phones, a dual-band model, which works in both the 900MHz and the 1800MHz bands, is recommended.It gives you a better chance to successfully contact the 999 emergency centre. | |
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Subscribe to roaming service or bring along a prepaid SIM card issued by one of the Mainland mobile network operators. In case of emergency at a place where there is no local mobile phone network coverage but roaming service is available, you may then call for assistance using the roaming service. |
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Walkie-talkies operating at 27 MHz and 409 MHz do not require a licence if they meet the relevant technical specifications prescribed by OFTA. 409 MHz equipment are smaller in size and are suitable for short range communication. They are widely available in electrical appliance outlets at reasonably low prices. |
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Before setting out for hiking, please fully recharge your mobile phones and walkie-talkies and bring along sufficient spare batteries. |
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When hiking in a team, switch off at least one of the mobile phones of the team members and keep it for backup. |
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Programme the telephone number of the police station nearest your hiking route into your mobile phone for easy access. The telephone numbers of some of the police stations near some country parks are given below.Call these numbers for assistance only when there is no local mobile phone network coverage but roaming service is available, and dial 00852 first: 1. Sai Kung Police Station 2792 1279 |
Understand the Limitations of Mobile Phone Networks
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Due to the hilly terrains of Hong Kong, there are a number of blind spots in the country parks where mobile phone service is not available. You should NOT rely on the mobile phone solely to call for urgent assistance. For details of the mobile coverage in the country parks, please refer to Mobile Network Coverage Survey. | |
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It will be difficult for your mobile phone to connect to any local mobile phone network in the following country park areas:
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Communication during an Emergency
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Check your mobile phone to see if it is locked on to your subscribed network. If yes, dial 999 or 112. |
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If your mobile phone cannot lock on to your subscribed network, try to dial 112. |
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Try to reach a higher location, which may give you a better chance to reach a local mobile phone network. |
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If your phone has roamed to a Mainland network, try to reset your phone manually back to your subscribed network or any local network. If you cannot do so, please use the roaming service to call the local police station nearby, your family or a friend for assistance by dialling 00852 plus the relevant phone number. While on the roaming service, you will NOT be able to contact the 999 emergency call centre by dialling 00852112 or 00852999. | |
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Tell your location, such as the number on the nearest distance post (e.g. C5310) or any prominent landmark nearby. |
Advice for Users of Walkie-Talkies
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All hikers are encouraged to bring along walkie-talkies for maintaining close communications with team members. They should also monitor Channel 9 which is used exclusively for summoning assistance during an emergency. When there is an emergency call from Channel 9, please offer assistance as far as possible. | |
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The communication range of walkie talkies is limited and affected by a number of factors, such as the local terrain. You should NOT rely on walkie-talkies as the only means for making an urgent request for help. |
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Make sure the 'tone squelch' of your walkie-talkie is disabled and the code setting is "00". This increases the chance for you to make/receive emergency calls to/from other hikers. |
Plan your Route Carefully
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Check the locations of public phones and emergency helplines along the route that you intend to take. This information is available in the mobile network coverage survey maps published by OFTA. | |
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You may refer to the countryside maps produced by the Lands Department, which are available at their Map Sales Outlets.These maps contain useful information about the walks and trails, including the locations of emergency helplines and public payphones. |
Use of Global Positioning System (GPS) Devices for Location Information
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In case of emergency, it is important for hikers to inform the Police or other relevant parties about their exact locations in order to minimize the time for searching. Although hikers may refer to the nearest distance post, it would be helpful for the Police and other relevant parties to know the exact location of the hikers. Portable GPS receivers, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) with GPS receivers or even PDA phone with GPS receiver are available in the market and they can be used for identifying their location. These devices are now available at affordable prices. Besides, most of these devices are light and portable and they are suitable for use during hiking. |
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More Information
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The Office of the Telecommunications
Authority http://www.ofta.gov.hk/en/ca_bd/Coverage-in-country-park-main.html |
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The Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department | |
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The Lands Department http://www.landsd.gov.hk/mapping/en/paper_map/cm.htm |
Amateur Radio Operation In Hong Kong: